Apparatus and method for providing a network termination point

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing a termination point for service emulation instances in an access network is provided. In an embodiment, the service emulation instances are implemented utilizing, for example, pseudowires. Communications to and from the access network are aggregated and transmitted via one or more pseudowires to a service emulation instance terminator. The service emulation instance terminator converts the traffic to its native form and, if necessary, converts the traffic to a different type of format or service. The service emulation instance terminator then frames the traffic for the appropriate type of service and transmits the traffic to the service edge. Traffic received from the service is removed prepended with a pseudowire label and aggregated with other traffic. The aggregated traffic is transmitted to the customer via the access network. If necessary, an interworking function may convert the traffic from one type of service to another type of service. Further, functionalities of equipment such as frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching may be realized in the service emulation instance terminator.

1. A network device for supporting transport of an information flow to a plurality of core networks, the device comprising:
 a first pseudowire endpoint configured to receive the information flow from one or more customer networks; 
 a second pseudowire endpoint in communication with a service edge providing an access point to a service provider network including one of the core networks; 
 a switching module configured to receive the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint, said switching module being configured to interconnect the first pseudowire endpoint and the second pseudowire endpoint for transport of a portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to the one core network via the second pseudowire endpoint and via the service edge; and 
 a framer coupled to the switching module and configured to convert another portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint into a traffic flow that is native to another one of the core networks of the service provider network, 
 wherein said switching module is configured to interconnect the first pseudowire endpoint and the framer for transport of the another portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to the another one of the core networks via the framer and via the service edge while bypassing the second pseudowire endpoint. 
 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a user-network interface (UNI) coupled to the first pseudowire endpoint and configured to specify the portion and the another portion of the information flow to the switching module. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the switching module provides frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching. 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the information flow is included in an aggregated flow originating from an aggregation point within a customer premise, and the aggregation point concentrates a plurality of flows from a corresponding plurality of customer networks. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first pseudowire endpoint interfaces a data link layer switch coupled to the aggregation point. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the framer outputs a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data stream to the another one of the core network. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the framer outputs an Ethernet-type data stream to the another one of the core network. 
     
     
       8. A computer-implemented method for supporting transport of an information flow to a plurality of core networks, the method comprising:
 receiving the information flow from one or more customer networks at a first pseudowire endpoint; 
 switching a portion of the information flow received from the first pseudowire endpoint by a switching module to a second pseudowire endpoint coupled to a service edge providing an access point to a service provider network including one of the core networks, wherein the switching module interconnects the first pseudowire endpoint to the second pseudowire endpoint for transport of the portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to the one core network via the second pseudowire endpoint and via the service edge; and 
 converting another portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint into a traffic flow that is native to another one of the core networks of the service provider network using a framer, 
 wherein the switching module interconnects the first pseudowire endpoint and the framer for transport of the another portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to the another one of the core networks via the framer and via the service edge while bypassing the second pseudowire endpoint. 
 
     
     
       9. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the switching step provides frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching. 
     
     
       10. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the information flow originates from an aggregation point within a customer premise, and the aggregation point concentrates a plurality of flows from a corresponding plurality of customer networks. 
     
     
       11. A method according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pseudowire endpoint interfaces a data link layer switch coupled to the aggregation point. 
     
     
       12. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the native traffic flow is a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data stream. 
     
     
       13. A method according to  claim 8 , wherein the native traffic flow is an Ethernet-type data stream. 
     
     
       14. A network switch for transporting an information flow to a service emulation instance terminator, the switch comprising:
 an input port configured to receive the information flow; 
 a Layer 2 switching engine configured to switch the information flow; and 
 an output port configured to forward the information flow to the service emulation instance terminator, wherein the service emulation instance terminator includes,
 a first pseudowire endpoint configured to receive the information flow from one or more customer networks, 
 a second pseudowire endpoint in communication with a service edge providing an access point to a service provider network including one of the core networks; 
 a switching module configured to receive the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint, said switching module being configured to interconnect the first pseudowire endpoint and the second pseudowire endpoint for transport of a portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to the one core network via the second pseudowire endpoint and via the service edge; and 
 a framer coupled to the switching module and configured to convert another portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint into a traffic flow that is native to another one of the core networks of the service provider network, 
 wherein said switching module is configured to interconnect the first pseudowire endpoint and the framer for transport of the another portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to the another one of the core networks via the framer and via the service edge while bypassing the second pseudowire endpoint. 
 
 
     
     
       15. A switch according to  claim 14 , wherein the switching module provides frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching. 
     
     
       16. A switch according to  claim 14 , wherein the information flow originates from an aggregation point within a customer premise, and the aggregation point concentrates a plurality of flows from a corresponding plurality of customer networks. 
     
     
       17. A switch according to  claim 14 , wherein the framer outputs a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data stream to the another one of the core network. 
     
     
       18. A switch according to  claim 14 , wherein the framer outputs an Ethernet-type data stream to the another one of the core network.